Ford V10 Excursion

What does the hive have to say about the Ford V10 specifically 2000 era?

Generally good things, though those are the plug-ejector motors.

I've got a 2000 with the v10 and I love it.

They are prone to popping plugs due to the three or four threads' worth of engagement in the aluminim heads.  That can be mitigated by torquing the plugs past factory spec to about 28lbft (check me on that, it's been a little while).

COPs are prone to failure, but they're cheap.  Carry an extra one with a 7mm socket and ratchet in the glove box.  Or drive confident in the knowledge that you can get one at any parts store anywhere in the you-ess-of-ay without waiting.

Like all the other Tritons of that era, exhaust leaks are common.  Manifold studs will break.

Fuel usage is a bit rough.  My last two tanks have been about 10.4-10.5 driving mostly around town.  Getting out on the highway can get you to 14 or 15, unladen.  Towing, expect about 9.  When you're cruising on the highway you will appreciate the 45 gallon fuel tank.  It's pretty awesome to be able to go almost 600 miles between fill-ups.  When you're breaking out the Amex at the pump,however, you will not.

It's an F250, so it is good at doing F250 things.  The ride is a bit rougher than your average Mall-Rated SUV, but the upside is that you start to aim for potholes because you know it can take it.

Towing with it is a dream.  The rating is either 10k or 12k.  You're about 7600-7800 lbs empty, so the trailer isn't going to push you around.  The V10 has grunt to spare and my 5000ish pound load doesn't phase it.

The third row will seat two actual adult human beings for a long trip.  Three kids will have no problem.  And loading it up with 8 people for a trip to the restaurant or whatever is not uncomfortable.

The middle seat folds basically flat pretty easily.  The third row is mechanically simple to remove, but it is a bit heavy.  With the third row out and the middle seat down, carrying 4x8 sheet goods is no problem.

The roof rack is pretty smartly designed with hooks that are large enough for the smaller ratchet straps along with esay-to-use adjusters on the rails.

The side mirrors kind of suck, but any Super Duty towing mirror set up to 2008 (or maybe even beyond) will bolt up.  With a little bit of wiring, you can get power-fold and turn signals to work as well.

They have front and rear air and heat.  Like every other vehicle I've ever driven with rear air for some reason the dash air is somewhat anemic until you turn the rear air on.  I've measured the temperature of the air coming out of the vents and once you turn on the rear air to its lowest setting, the air coming out of the dash vents gets colder.  I'm sure someone can explain that phenomenon, but I am not that someone.

Don't waste your time trying to find one with an non-shredded driver's seat if you're shopping leather.  They all look like a badger has been released on the inside of the truck.  Cover sets are available, and look amazing, but are a bit pricey.  I think each seat lower is something like $260 or something.

I've had mine for about a year and a quarter now after buying it from a board member and I just love the thing.  I can honestly say that it drives better than my Mercedes.

My buddy bought a new diesel 4x4 as he had 4 kids and loved it.  He would tow some large trailers for his side business.  
 

I was impressed with his truck.  

In reply to wae :

Awesome report, recently towed with my Expedition and it was no fun, 24 foot trailer gets sucked towards large trucks, I suspect due to the IRS.

Then on the way back with my new acquisition it blew a valve or holed a piston. 5.4 is not quite enough for the job.

I had a 2002 F350 V10, the engine and drivetrain was GREAT,  the rest of the truck not so much.

Watch out for rust and I am not sure if the windshield leaks like the F350 but if it did/ dose.  I would stay away as the water runs into the fuse block/ BCM and the wiring fills with corrosion as well. Chaberkeleyingching!!

In reply to wae :

Don't waste your time trying to find one with an non-shredded driver's seat if you're shopping leather.  They all look like a badger has been released on the inside of the truck.  Cover sets are available, and look amazing, but are a bit pricey.

I legit snorted as I read the badger comment.. 

Love love the excursions. Unlike the Escalade, they seemed to be owned by decent human beings around here 

always wanted one - but don't see paying $17,000+ for them which is what everyone around here wants for one always. Seems no depreciation as yesrs go on 

That generally only applies to the diesels. The 5.4 and 6.8s are pretty cheap usually. 

Yeah...  People ask for stupid amounts of money for the diesels but the v10s go pretty reasonably.

That said, if you want to spend $17k for a v10 model, I'm your guy!

I’ll just add this: I have the 7.3 diesel in my F350.  Gas being what it is these days I wish it was V10.  Why?  It’s loud.  And smelly.  And those two things don’t bother me much but like they say, “..happy wife, happy life...” and she ain’t happy in that truck.  A good tune on a diesel is a game changer though.  Just not in the noise and smell area.

Donebrokeit said:

I had a 2002 F350 V10, the engine and drivetrain was GREAT,  the rest of the truck not so much.

 

Watch out for rust and I am not sure if the windshield leaks like the F350 but if it did/ dose.  I would stay away as the water runs into the fuse block/ BCM and the wiring fills with corrosion as well. Chaberkeleyingching!!

That’s the GEM (general electronics module in Ford speak) getting soaked.  The results are all over the map.  But they could be, from my experience: lights come on all by themselves and run your battery down, blower motor won’t turn off, speedometer won’t work and overdrive won’t engage.  It’s a mess when the GEM gets wet.  Mine has always dried out and things returned to normal when it did.  I also found that if I park it dead level it won’t get wet even in the worst rain.  Plus it never gets wet when in motion.  I’ve driven through monsoons with no issues.   But yeah, I’m thinking about getting a new windshield installed and hoping the new one will seal up.  Safelite guy told me that a superduty / Excursion was the biggest berking PITA there is to install.

I would murder each and every one of you to find a reasonably priced, tastefully lifted 7.3 Excursion in a decent monotone color that someone already did a 6 speed swap into.  

One of the sweetest trucks out there but super thin on the ground in decent shape.  

A 401 CJ said:

Donebrokeit said:

I had a 2002 F350 V10, the engine and drivetrain was GREAT,  the rest of the truck not so much.

 

Watch out for rust and I am not sure if the windshield leaks like the F350 but if it did/ dose.  I would stay away as the water runs into the fuse block/ BCM and the wiring fills with corrosion as well. Chaberkeleyingching!!

That’s the GEM (general electronics module in Ford speak) getting soaked.  The results are all over the map.  But they could be, from my experience: lights come on all by themselves and run your battery down, blower motor won’t turn off, speedometer won’t work and overdrive won’t engage.  It’s a mess when the GEM gets wet.  Mine has always dried out and things returned to normal when it did.  I also found that if I park it dead level it won’t get wet even in the worst rain.  Plus it never gets wet when in motion.  I’ve driven through monsoons with no issues.   But yeah, I’m thinking about getting a new windshield installed and hoping the new one will seal up.  Safelite guy told me that a superduty / Excursion was the biggest berking PITA there is to install.

I had most  of the issues  listed with the parking  and brake lights being the worst of it, totally random.  I picked up a used GEM and that took care of all but three issues  (had 12 at one time) I think the rest  were in the wiring. 

The windshield  leak issue is due to a body seam above the steering wheel area, make sure the installer  cleans (sand and paint  if necessary) and caulk the hell out of that area.

Paul B

Superduty's, Excursions, meh.  Get a good E-350 V10 and do a U-Joint Offroad conversion.  Those things are bad ass.  

So how much is a reliable, well sorted, excellent condition Excursion going for (V10)?

The one I am considering is just $2500

mr2s2000elise said:

So how much is a reliable, well sorted, excellent condition Excursion going for (V10)?

In SoCal I was finding them for 3-6k. I ended up buying a 7.3 Ex though lol

yupididit said:

mr2s2000elise said:

So how much is a reliable, well sorted, excellent condition Excursion going for (V10)?

In SoCal I was finding them for 3-6k. I ended up buying a 7.3 Ex though lol

I have identified a market inefficiency 

In reply to A 401 CJ :

Thats was in 2017 and I was coming across some good ones. I test drove a few and they were nice but then a 2wd 7.3 popped up for a great price and thats what I got.